California export trade’s winning streak snapped in 2015

The value of California merchandise exports fell 5 percent in 2015, the first annual decline since 2009.

Golden State businesses shipped merchandise valued at $165.37 billion last year, down from an all-time record of $174.13 billion in 2014, according to Beacon Economics, a consulting firm with offices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Beacon on Friday broke down California's export totals from U.S. Commerce Department figures.

Analysts were not surprised by the decline. Economic growth overseas, particularly in China, has slowed, and a rising dollar has made U.S. products more expensive.

Given this set of circumstances, California exports held up comparatively well, they said.

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“We continue to fare better than most of the nation’s other top five exporting states. Only Washington state’s numbers were less discouraging,” said Jock O’Connell, Beacon’s international trade adviser.

O’Connell noted that exports nationwide were off 7.1 percent year-over-year, and business rival Texas saw a 13.1 percent decline in 2015.